Tour Our (Mostly) Thrifted Home

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It’s here! After many, many requests over just as many years, I’m finally sharing a more complete tour of our Portland, Maine apartment.

When Chris and I moved into this apartment back in 2018, it felt like the “home” we’d been searching for and it’s by far my favorite space we’ve lived in. I missed these old New England apartments so much when we moved to Pittsburgh and Philly, there’s just something about the moldings, weighted windows, and hardwood floors that sets them apart. Besides our Beverly, MA apartment, which I loved for different reasons (oh, the raging parties we used to throw!), this is the first place that’s felt like “us” in a very long time. So when we moved in, we were super selective of how we decorated and what we brought into it. Translation: no clutter and smart storage.

When we moved back to Maine, we stayed with my mom for a few months to regroup and look for a place. We stashed everything we didn’t need in a storage unit (which was pretty much… well, everything), so when we finally found the perfect space, we were able to be even more selective with what we brought into it and what we kept in storage.

Chris and I aren’t minimalists in any sense of the word, but keeping a tidy home with everything organized is something I’m passionate about. That might sound ridiculous – using the word “passionate” about home organization – but clutter makes me anxious. And after living in too-small places with too much stuff for way too long, we were both ready for a fresh start and an apartment that felt more “adult”. So we took our shot to really make our place feel like home – on a budget, of course.

“All new everything” has never really been my thing – or Chris’s for that matter. I grew up with a mother who really loved and appreciated antiques and a great secondhand find, and who passed that trait down to me. While we have a few items that were bought new, most of the pieces in our home were bought or found secondhand – even our cats were found on the side of the road! I love a good secondhand home find because it’s already broken in. The years give character, makes things less precious, and I like that what we have is super unique. Of course, collecting takes time. Chris and I have been living together since 2007, when our TV stand was a Rubbermaid bin and our couch was a ‘70s loveseat with cigarette burns in it. We’ve come a long way since, but we still take it slow when it comes to decorating. Example? We’ve only had a coffee table for about six months, and I’m still looking for the perfect lighting situation for our dining room. Decorating takes time, especially when you’re not just going to a home store and buying what’s readily available. Below I’m sharing a glimpse into our bedroom, living room, and dining room. No kitchen, no bathroom, and no office, because, as with most rentals, it’s not all perfect or photogenic.

Before we dive in, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite sources and tips for vintage and secondhand home decor:

Flea markets: Most flea markets are canceled this year, but under normal circumstances, I love Brimfield and other antiques and flea markets for vintage home decor. Get there super early with cash in hand for your best chance at scoring something good.

Thrift stores: Thrift stores are less successful for me but still worthy of taking a look. I always take a peek in the home decor section for planters, lighting, and vintage glassware.

Facebook marketplace: I’ve had amazing luck with Facebook marketplace for rugs and other decor items. usually, people are willing to negotiate with you, but you gotta act fast – items get claimed pretty quickly. And cash in hand is king.

Craigslist: Similar to FB marketplace, act fast and of course, always bring someone with you to pick up your finds in a safe location.

Etsy: I love Etsy for prints, planters, decor, and vintage kilim pillows.

Random small antique & thrift stores: By far my favorite places to browse for vintage home finds are the kind of small, random antique stores that are all over New England. The smaller and less polished, the better.


BEDROOM

Bedroom sources:

  • Bed: Secondhand Ethan Allen

  • Cowhide rug, reading light, floor mirror: Ikea returns section

  • Linens: Brooklinen

  • Shag rug: Vintage, Portland Flea For All

  • Dresser: Antique, from my mom’s house

  • Circular mirror: Side of the road, gold leafed by me

  • Bedside table: Antique

  • Dress form: Salvaged from the dumpster at J. Crew!

  • Wall shelves: DIY (wall brackets and board from Lowes)

  • Throw pillows: West Elm


    LIVING ROOM

Living Room Sources:



DINING ROOM

Dining Room Sources:

  • Table: yard sale

  • Benches: Made by Chris (bench legs here)

  • Rug: Yard sale

  • Sheepskins: Ikea

  • Mid-Century chair: Used, Construction Junction, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Mud Cloth: Baldwin Fabrics, Philadelphia, PA

  • Rope chair: Thrifted

  • Pendleton Blanket: Flea Market

  • Mobile: Moorea Seal

  • Artwork: Flea markets, yard sales & made by friends

  • Odds and ends: Flea markets, the beach, thrift stores, bones collected in the woods



DecorJulie O'Boyledecor, thrifting, homeComment